Portable electric washing machine



061;. 25, 1955 MODREY PORTABLE ELECTRIC WASHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 13, 1955 INVENTOR.

HENRY J. MODREY BY AMA 3. M

ATTORNEY Oct. 25, 1955 H. J. MODREY 2,721,467

I PORTABLE ELECTRIC WASHING MACHINE Filed May 13, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

HENRY J. MODREY BY a WM;

ATTORNEY United States Patent PORTABLE ELECTRIC WASHING MACHINE Henry I. Modrey, Stamford, Conn., assignor to AMI Incorporated, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application May 13, 1953, Serial No. 354,779

7 Claims. (Cl. 68-184) The present invention relates to portable electric washing machines, more particularly to washing machines of the type for insertion in a sink or wash basin having a drain opening in its bottom wall.

Portable electric washing machines of the general type above referred to, are customarily releasably attached to the bottom wall of a sink or other basin by means of several small suction cups which depend from the base of the machine proper. Conventional fastening means of this kind have several disadvantages. In case the bottom of the basin is sloped, as is frequently the case particularly with wash basins, the washing machine will not stand upright. As a result, it tends to topple over, the more so as the retaining force exerted by the suction cups is not very strong. Furthermore, the drain of the basin or sink must be repeatedly opened and closed while the washing and rinsing operations are in progress. While some basins are fitted with a lever for opening and closing the drain, which is accessible from the outside, the majority of basins, particularly kitchen sinks, must be closed and opened by means of a turn valve and insertion or removal of a stopper. Consequently, the user of a portable washing machine must lift the machine and put her hand and arm into the hot and soapy water to open and close the drain. This is not only inconvenient and unpleasant, but also may be dangerous due to the presence of electric current.

Accordingly, one object of the invention is to provide novel and improved support and fastening means which allow an opening and closing of the drain without reaching into the water and without requiring a mechanism such as a lever system for operating the drain.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel and improved support and fastening means which permit to place the washing machine in a sink or other basin in upright position, even though the bottom of the basin upon which the machine rests is sloped.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be pointed out hereinafter and set forth in the appended claims forming part of the application.

In the accompanying drawing, several now preferred embodiments of the invention are shown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

Fig. 1 is a sectional side view of a washing machine according to the invention, designed for insertion in a basin having a horizontal bottom.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational side view of the machine according to Fig. 1., but showing the machine intilted position for opening the drain in the bottom of the basin.

Fig. 4 is an elevational side view of the washing machine according to the invention, designed for insertion in a basin having a sloped wall, the machine being shown in a tilted position.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the machine in upright position.

Fig. 6 is a perspective exploded view of the tilt-cor- 2 recting means for tilting the machine according to Figs. 4 and 5, and

Fig. 7 is a sectional detailed view showing a modification of the tilt-correcting means according to Fig. 6.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 in detail, these figures show a basin 10 which may be visualized as a kitchen sink, a wash basin or a similar vessel. It has a horizontal bottom which includes a drain opening 11 to which is fitted a drain pipe 12. The figures show further a portable electric washing machine generally designated by 13. This machine which may be conventional or not conventional, comprises a closed housing 14 from the top end of which extends a grip 15 to manipulate the machine. The washing and rinsing operations are effected by the rotation of a water impeller 16 protruding from the base end of housing 14 and rotated by an electric motor disposed within the housing and connected by a cord 56. The usual wire guard surrounding the impeller has been omitted to simplify the illustration.

For carrying out a washing and rinsing operation, the washing machine is placed over the drain opening and held in operative position by the support and fastening means according to the invention. These support and fastening means are shown as comprising a plate 17. secured to housing 14 by legs 18 depending from the base of the housing. They comprise a cup-shaped member, generally designated as 19, made of flexible material, such as rubber or a rubber composition. Cup 19 is pastened with its closed end to plate 17 by any suitable means, such as bonding or, as shown, a screw or rivet 20.

As can best be seen in Fig. 2, cup 19 has a circular cross-section and is divided by flexible partition walls into a plurality of chambers. There is shown a circular central chamber 21 formed by a ring wall 22. The diameter of the central chamber should be so selected that the central chamber covers the largest drain opening that is used in basins of the type here in question.

A plurality of radial partition walls 23 extend from ring wall 22 toward the outer wall 24 of cup 19 to form a number of suction cups 25 surrounding the central chamber. Ring wall 22 forms the inner peripheral wall of each of the suction cups 25.

The operation of the washing machine, as hereinbefore described, is as follows:

The washing machine is placed in the position of Fig. l and axially slightly depressed, as is indicated by the dotted line position of grip 15. As a result, cup 19 is somewhat flattened and when now the downward pressure upon the machine is released the slight vacuum thus formed in suction cups 25 will cause cup 19 to cling to the bottom of the basin 10. It will be apparent that no effective vacuum can be developed in the central chamber 21, as this chamber is located over drain pipe 12. Nevertheless, the central chamber forms an effective water seal over the drain as the wall 22 defining the central chamber is also part of the walls of the suction cups 25 so that the ring wall is pressed along its entire periphery against the bottom of the basin by the vacuum in suction Cups 25. In other words, the walls of the suction cups serve to support the washing machine and also to hold the ring wall of the central chamber in sealing and waterproof position against the bottom wall of the basin.

When it is now desired to drain the basin, the operator tilts the washing machine by gripping grip 15, as is indicated in Fig. 3. After the basin has drained, the washing machine is returned into the position of Fig. 1 and again temporarily depressed to restore the vacuum in suction cups 25.

As appears from the description of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the support and fastening means according to these figures permit placement of the washing machine in an up right position only when the basin has a horizontal bottom.

Figs. 4 to 7, inclusive, show an exemplification of the invention which provides for an upright position of the washing machine also when the wall of the basin upon which the washing machine rests is sloped. Of course, a washing machine according to these figures can also be inserted in upright position in a basin having a horizontal bottom.

Figs. 4 and 5 show a basin having a sloped wall. To permit placement of the washing machine in an upright position, adiustable tilt-correcting means are interposed between the washing machine and the support and fastening means proper, which may be similar to those described in connection with Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Accordingly, the support and fastening means are generally designated by numeral 19.

Fig. 6 shows the tilt-correcting means in detail. According to this figure, these means comprise an upper plate fixedly secured to legs 1.3 and. a lower plate 31 fixedly secured to the cup member of the support and fastening means. Plate 31 can be secured to the cup member by any suitable means, such as bonding or cementing or, as shown, cut-outs 32 may be provided in plate is extended so that the cup member and plate 31 are interlocked with each other. Plate 30, which may be integral with the machine housing, is provided with a cam surface. This cam surface can be formed by any suitable means. According to a new preferred embodiment of the invention, the cam surface is formed by embossing in the top of plate 30 an inclined groove, generally designated by 33. This groove coacts with a cam 34 raised from the upper side of plate 31 or fixedly attached thereto. Cam groove 33 is preferably provided with a plurality of bulges or detents 35 to form a number of predetermined raised positions for cam 34. Plates 30 and 31 are joined relatively rotatable by means of a pin 36 extended through holes 37 and 38 in plates 30 and 31 respectively and retained in position by a springy clip 39 which fits in an annular groove 46 of pin 36. Clip 39 may be provided with holes 41. There is further provided a coil spring 42 fitted between washer 43 and plate 31. This spring is loaded when the tilt-correcting means are assembled and serves to bias the two plates toward each other.

The operation of a washing machine according to Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, is as follows:

The washing machine is placed over the drain opening of the basin and depressed for the purpose of establishing a vacuum in suction cups 25 and sealing the ring wall of the central chamber 21 to the sloped wall of basin 10'. The flexibility of the cup member will permit such sealing in spite of the slope of the wall upon which the washing machine rests. The machine then occupies the slightly tilted position of Fig. 4. When it is now desired to place the machine in the upright position of Fig. 5, the housing of the machine and, with it, plate 30, is rotated relative to the stationarily held plate 31. Assuming that this rotation is in counter-clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 6, cam 34 will ride up within groove 33. As a result, plates 3% and 31 will be forced from the originally parallel position of Pig. 4 into the position of Fig. 5 in which the plates are slanted relative to each other. Consequently, the washing machine is moved into an upright position in which it is retained by engagement of cam 34 with the respective detent 35. Spring 42 is further loaded by the spreading of the plates and will, accordingly, press cam 34 into the detent engaged by it when the machine is in its upright position.

The basin can be drained by tilting the machine, as is shown in Fig. 3. It will be obvious that the washing machine will return into its upright position when the cap member is again sealed to the basin wall as cam 34.

is retained in the respective detent by the pressure of 31 into which cuts the material of the cup member loaded spring 42. In case the washing machine is used continuously in the same basin, the tilt-correcting means may be set for the specific angle of this slope and left in the adjusted position but, as appears from the previous description, readjustment for different angles of slope is simple and convenient.

The usefulness of the tilt-correcting means according to Figs. 4 to 6 is not limited to the provision of the support and fastening means, as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 6. Plate 31 may also be temporarily sealed to the basin by any other suitable means. Fig. 7 shows an arrangement according to which a plurality of conventional suction cups 45 depend from plate 31 to which they are secured by any suitable means, such as headed rivets 46. The washing machine is supported by plate 31, and the tilt-correcting means as described will hold the machine in upright position even though the plate 31 may occupy a sloped position in the basin.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to certain now preferred examples and embodiments of the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A portable electric washing machine for insertion in an open basin having a drain opening in its bottom wall, in combination with suction means for detachably attaching the washing machine to the bottom wall of the basin, and tilt-correcting means interposed between and secured to the machine and said suction means, the said tilt-correcting means providing for an axial tilting of the washing machine relative to the suction means thereby permitting to place the Washing machine in an upright position on a sloped bottom wall of the basin.

2. A portable electric washing machine for insertion in an open basin having a drain opening in its bottom wall, in combination with suction means for detachably attaching the washing machine to the bottom wall of the basin, and tilt-correcting means interposed between and secured to the machine and said suction means, the said tilt-correcting means including cam means for varying the axial position of the washing machine relative to said suction means thereby providing for adaptation of the axial position of the machine to the general plane of the bottom wall of the basin.

3. A washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the said cam means comprise a cam surface and a cam coacting therewith supported on the washing machine and the suction means respectively, the said washing machine being mounted on the suction means rotatably and tiltably relative thereto for varying the axial position of the washing machine relative to the suction means by changing the position of the said cam relative to said cam surface.

4. A washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the said cam surface is formed with detents spaced in the direction of the relative rotation of the cam and the cam surface thereby retaining the washing machine in a selected one of several predetermined axial positions relative to the suction means.

5. 'A washing machine according to claim 4, wherein a plate is attached to the washing machine and a second plate to the suction means, said plate attached to the washing machine supporting the cam surface and said plate attached to the suction means supporting the cam, and wherein spring means coact with said plates biasing the same toward engagement between said cam surface and said cam.

6. A washing machine according to claim 5, wherein the said cam surface is formed by indentations in the plate attached to the washing machine and the said cam is formed by an indentation in the plate attached to the suction means.

7. A washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the said suction means comprise an elastic cup member including a plurality of flexible partition walls dividing the hollow space of said cup member, the said partition walls forming a central open chamber adapted to be placed over said drain opening for closing the same and a plurality of suction chambers surrounding said central chamber, the partition wall forming said central chamber also forming a wall portion of each suction chamber whereby the wall forming said central chamber abuts against the bottom wall of the basin in sealing connection therewith by a vacuum produced within said suction chambers by temporarily pressing the washing machine against said bottom wall of the basin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 646,668 Noppel Apr. 3, 1900 2,042,372 Watson May 26, 1936 2,278,075 Hecht Mar. 31, 1942 2,394,094 Nichol Feb. 5, 1946 2,430,769 Hutchinson Nov. 11, 1947 2,496,525 Eggleston Feb. 7, 1950 

